b'Fighting Stigma is Important to theMS Community According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than half of peoplewith mental health conditions do not seek treatment. Thats a shocking percentageof people who suer needlessly. Can you imagine hearing that more than half ofpeople with a broken arm do not seek treatment? Yet, the suering caused by mentalillness is no less real.One reason people do not reach out for help is because there is a stigma associatedwith mental health conditions. People feel they will be viewed as weak, damaged,or crazy. They may worry others will look down on them, or that if word gets out itmay aect their jobs or friendships. They may feel ashamed.This is why ghting stigma about mental health conditions is so vitally important to break down barriers to treatment, to end needless suering, and to erase theshame people with mental health conditions are made to feel for something beyondtheir control. Whether you have a mental health condition, love someone who does,or are simply a caring ally, you can help ght stigma. How to Fight Stigma To ght stigma, we rst need to understand it. Social scientists have identiedthree dierent types of stigma: 1. Public stigmanegative or discriminatory attitudes that are common in theculture toward a specic group or trait 2. Self-stigmawhen a person in the stigmatized group or with the stigmatizedtrait has internalized these negative ideas, often resulting in shame or secrecy 3. Institutional stigmaintentionally or unintentionally discriminatory laws,rules, or policies in government, education, or private sector businesses With this understanding, its easy to see that change starts with you. If you havecome to believe stereotypes and false ideas about mental illness because of publicstigma, its time to change your thinking. How?HHoowwttooBBeeaannAAllllyyttooTThhoosseewwiitthhMMeennttaallIIllllnneessss Question stereotypes. Do you really know about a certain mental illness, or onlythe portrayals youve seen in movies and on TV? Is that what its really like? Educate yourself. Use trusted resources such as national nonprots that advocatefor the mentally ill community to learn the facts. Know your limits. Refrain from oering even well-meaning mental health adviceto people with mental illnesses, recognizing you do not know the particulars oftheir situation.Watch how you speak. Avoid stigmatizing language.Speak up. Support mental health initiatives. Call out stereotypes. Show your supportfor people with mental illness.21'